PAUL'S THORN - A MESSENGER OF SATAN

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

This subject, commonly known as Paul's thorn, has so much controversy surrounding it one might stray away from even trying to understand it. 

However, the truths Paul reveals in this passage are essential to successfully completing the race set before each of us as believers.

With proper use of the rules that govern Bible interpretation, we can gain understanding that will help us as we endeavor to know more.

First of all, when examining a passage of scripture, we must ask, "Who is speaking and who is being addressed?"

Paul, the writer to the church at Corinth, was a highly educated man.  He was a Pharisee before his conversion to Christ - a well-known and respected rabbi (or teacher).  He knew the laws of Moses inside out and backward.

In his letters to the Corinthian church, Paul was writing to believers of that day.  Since we are still living in what is called the Church Age or the Age of Grace, his words also apply to us. 

A second rule of Bible interpretation is looking at the whole of scripture to understand a part.  This is ever so important in understanding Paul's thorn.

In examining the Old Testament, the law upon which Paul based the bulk of his education, we can find references to what God Himself calls a "thorn in the side" or a "thorn in the eye." 

Given Paul's background, these passages deserve our attention in understanding what Paul might have been referring to when he used the phrase, "thorn in the flesh."

In our search of the Old Testament we find three similar phrases mentioned:

*   Numbers 33:50-55 ...thorns in your sides

*   Joshua 23:12-13 ...scourges in your sides ...thorns in your eyes

*   Judges 2:1-3 ...thorns in your sides

If we look at each passage we can see that God was referring to the inhabitants of the land of promise.  God warned the children of Israel that if they did not drive out the inhabitants, they would be as thorns in their sides.  He was referring to people and the obstacles they could become.

A modern-day example of a thorn in the flesh could be the Palestinians currently fussing over the land that God says belongs to Israel.

God's warnings to Israel are still coming to pass, thousands of years after they were spoken through Moses.

Paul was accustomed to this phrase in reference to the challenges Israel faced when the people of the land interfered with the plan of God.  It was a figure of speech.

There is no standard or precedent in scripture to indicate that a thorn in the side, in the eye or in the flesh would ever be a reference to a sickness or disease.

Now lets take a moment and discuss "a messenger of Satan."

The word messenger in this passage comes from the original Greek word "angelos."  This word appears in the New Testament 186 times.  179 times it is translated as angel - 7 times as messenger.  It is never translated as a word even closely related to sickness or disease.

In Matthew 25:41 Jesus used the word "angelos" when referring to "everlasting fire" being "prepared for the devil and his angels."

When Paul referred to a messenger of Satan, he was speaking of an evil spirit.

What does it mean to be buffeted?

To buffet means to strike, blow after blow, repeatedly; to oppose and contend against; constant repeated attacks.

The word buffeted can also be found in 1 Corinthians 4:11 as Paul describes the many challenges he faced as a missionary to the Gentiles. 

Again, the word buffet is never used in scripture in connection with sickness or disease.  It is most often used in the context of persecutions and trials.

Apparently there was an evil spirit that opposed Paul at every turn.  Everywhere he went there was something or someone that stirred up trouble.

Careful examination of the book of Acts provides vivid details as to what this messenger of Satan did to hinder Paul in his efforts to share the revelation God had given him.

Time and space does not permit us to list the text of every single passage, but I will provide the references for your use:  Acts 9:23-25; 13:14,44-52; 14:1-5; 14:6-19; 16:12-40; 17:10-14; 18:1-23; 19:23-31; 20:3; 21:26-32; and 23:12-22. 

In the passages mentioned above we find many phrases such as:  expelled, mobbed, jailed, plotted to kill, etc.  They are prime examples of how people were used by the enemy to confound the work of God. 

But, Paul didn't blame people.  He blamed the source from which the trouble came.

In 2 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul gives a detailed list of the things that hindered him:

2 Corinthians 11:24-27

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Why did these things happen to Paul?  Was it because God wanted to humble him?

1 Peter 5:6 tells us that if we humble ourselves, He (God) will lift us up in due time.  In reading the writings of Paul, it doesn't take much effort to see that he was a humble man.  If he was humble, then he was a candidate to be lifted up or exalted by God.

By the Lord, Paul had been given exceedingly great revelation - a precise understanding of what God did for us in Christ, including the importance of the Holy Spirit and the present-day ministry of Jesus. 

God intended for Paul to deliver that information to the Gentiles and to believers everywhere - to give him a platform from which to speak.  He intended to exalt him before men so that his message could be heard.

However, the enemy had a different plan.  If he could somehow ruin Paul's reputation, destroy his credibility or stir up trouble wherever Paul went, perhaps the message would not go forth.

While it is true that Paul said he would glory in his infirmities, we need to understand that there is nothing in the immediate context of this passage (an important rule of Bible interpretation) to indicate that Paul was speaking of sickness or disease. 

The word "infirmities" in this context is speaking specifically of "weakness" or "the frailty of the human condition."  Paul had no power in and of himself to stop the evil attacks of the enemy. 

Because of his human condition - of being powerless to help himself - Paul knew God would provide His strength and ability whenever help was needed (see Hebrews 4:16).  When Paul's ability fell short, the grace of God would put him over.

Thank God, His grace was sufficient.  1 Peter 4:10 refers to "...the manifold grace of God," indicating there are many facets to God's grace.

Simply, and most commonly defined, it means "God's unmerited favor" or "unearned partiality."  As believers, we are all His favorites, even though we do not deserve this preferred status.

According to Ephesians 2:8, it is by His grace we are saved through faith.  And, I especially like this acronym for G R A C E:  God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

However, there is even more to the grace of God.  In 2 Corinthians 9:8 Paul describes the grace of God as being a super abundant supply.  It provides whatever is necessary in the circumstances of life.

Grace is God's strength and ability working in and through us to place us on the side of victory.

The word sufficient in our society implies just enough.  But in the original Greek, it means so much more.

According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the word translated as sufficient means the idea of raising a barrier; to ward off, to avail.

In other words, when God said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee", He was saying, "My grace (my strength and ability working in and through you) is enough to put a barrier around you, to ward off every attack of the enemy and cause you to avail in every situation."

Now, folks, that's something to shout about!

As we go forth in this, the last of the last days, we're going to need to rely upon the grace of God like never before.  His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

We have no power in ourselves to accomplish the work set before us.  But, with God's Grace all things are possible!

January / February 2004